Validity of language arts curriculum questioned by school board member

October 14, 2003

By Gary Mitchell

When assistant superintendent for instruction Ladona Clayton reviewed the materials adoption/curriculum revision schedule for language arts Tuesday night, a Clovis school board member questioned its validity.
Board member George Banister first asked who required the changes in the language arts curriculum revision timeline.
“The State Department of Education,” Clayton said.
“But the State Department of Education will be gone soon with the appointment of the new secretary of education,” Banister said. “So who’s going to enforce these guidelines — or will they be changed later on by someone else?”
Clovis superintendent of schools Neil Nuttall said the State Board of Education just had its last meeting with interim secretary of education Alan Morgan.
New policies and procedures are still in question, Nuttall said.
“Dr. Morgan will meet with the new education commission within the next two weeks,” he said. “It’s not a law-making body. It’s an advisory body. But they will hammer out what its new responsibilities are. There are over 200 state statutes to be changed. It will be a major undertaking. It’s definitely going to be a rough road.”
Clayton said the process had already been implemented, and school districts have little choice but to follow through on those directives although they may change in the future.
In other action, board members approved an April 2004 Clovis High School Choir trip for student vocalists to compete in the “Buckaroo Showcase Festival” in Houston.
“We are estimating 110 students will be making the trip to Houston,” said Chuck Tipton, CHS choir director, in his request. “Approximate cost is $300 per student. The choir will take at least one adult chaperone for every 10 students.”
The board also approved a two-day trip to Glorieta for nine students from the Yucca Junior High School Supercomputing Club and five students from the Marshall Junior High School Supercomputing Club to participate in the “Adventures in Supercomputing Challenge” on Nov. 2-3.
The board’s next regular monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the central administration building, 1009 N. Main St.